Moistener and sealer device



March 15, 1927.

J. A. MITCHELL ET AL MOISTENER AND SEALER DEVICE Filed Nov. 7. 1924 4 sheets-sheet 1 1 I u. u h u lNVENTORS Him? LA VI m R a m qm Am .A N

March v J. A. MITCHELL ET AL MOISTENER AND SEALER DEVICE Filed N v. '7. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY March 15 1927. 1,621,078

.1. A. MITCHELL ET AL MOISTENER AND SEALER DEVICE Filed Nov. 7. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mumummimnuuv INVENTORS donNA. MITCHELL.

BY LAWRENCEJ. Zmm.

' ATTORNEY 1,621,078 March 1927 .1. A. MITCHELL ET AL MOISTENER AND SEALER DEVICE Filed Nov."7. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVENTOR S LAWRENCE J. ZAH'N.

ATTORNEY JOHNA-MITCHELL Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

JOHN A. MITCHELL, OF NEWARK, JERSEY, AND LAWRENCE J. ZAI-I-N, OF'IJONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL POSTAL SUPPLY (JQlVli- PATE roFFi -MOISTENER AND SEALER DEVlICE.

Application filed November This invention relates to a combination machine for the purpose" of taking mail, separating, and sealing same, then applying a post mark thereto and finally metering or registering the number of pieces of mail matter that pass through the machine. A machine of this character is especially adapted for use in large establishments having a big quantity of mail.

It is the principal object of our invention to provide a combination machine which will fulfill the three principal functions outlined above. 7 V

In carrying out the principle of our invention it is another object to perform all these functions automatically so that the hand labor is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of our invention is to provide various detailed improvements which will bring about the accomplishment of our principal object in a relative simple, but effective manner.

Another object of our invention is to provide improvements in details which add to the quietness of operation of the machine, and to further provide adjustments for the various parts entering into our improvements which can be readilyaccomplished.

These and other objects will be apparent to one skilled in this particular art after a study of the specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan View of that portion of the machine in which our improvements are incorporated. I

FigureQ is an elevational' view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, except asto the meter which is shown in a position corresponding to Fig. 1, with a part of the casing removed to show some of the driving mechanism.

Figure 3 is apart elevation and sectional view of the double feed roll and the mail conveyor for bringing the mail up to the feedroll. i

Figure dis a top view of the belt conveyor shown in Fig. 3, but with the belt cut away.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the separator as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective side view of the separator shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the driving member shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 8 is a sectional View showing the 7, 1924. Serial No. 748,373.

means for driving the meter or registering device Figure 9 is a front elevation ofthe moistvarious views, 1 is a table on which the mechanism of the machine is mounted; as will be seen from Fig. 2, the driving mechanism is mounted on the bottom side of the table 1, and consists of a series of gear wheels properly associated to drive the parts which will be hereinafter described. The

driving mechanism'is enclosed within a 1 casing or gear trough 2 and which is sup- 7 ported on a pedestal 3., 4 is a gear plate which acts as a support or bearing for the bottomend of the gear spindles. On top of the table 1, are fastened two wing members 5 and 6, which constitute a chutefor guiding the mail in the machine. WVhen the mail is placed within the chute the feed plate 7 is moved forward in opposition to spring 8 against the guide plate 9 and as the mail decreasesrin quantity through the chute, the spring 8 pushes the member 7 to the position shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of keeping the mail matter in proper vertical position. When the machine is in operation, the con- '\"eyo r belt'lO, which is carried on two rollers 11 and 12 automatically carry the mail forward so that it is engaged by the double feed roller 13; the bottom part 14: of which carries a rubber band while the upper part 15 merely acts as a support or guide for the envelopes. The roller 11 is fixedin position as shown in Fig. 4: while the roller 12 is" supported on two brackets 16 which are adjustable by means of a thumb nut 17 and spring 18. By this means, proper tension on theconveyor belt 10 may be obtained. It is to befunderstood that the belt 10 may be of any suitable material suchas rubber or leather. As the mail is brought forward; by

thedouble feed roller 13, it is brought into engagement with the feed roll 19, which is turned in the direction of the arrow. order that but one letter or piece of mail matter shall be passed through at a time, a

. separator series-must be utilized. In our present inventioh, this separator device takes the form of a lever which is'pivoted at 21'. The lerer 20 carries an arm 22 which is pivoted thereon at23, said arm22 being adjustable by a thumb nut 24 co-acting with a spring 25' as is clearly shown in Figs. 1and5.

Pivoted on the outer end of the arm 22 is carried a separator roll QGwhich is'gea'red to operate in the direction of the arrow,

' which, it willbe noted, is in the oppositfe r direction from the. feed roll 19.. Attached to the bitter end (rf'the lever 20, a spring 27, which has one end adjustably icarried in notches 2S enii bracket preferably matured on the side of the barrel 30, with in which, is'house'd a spring; 70 shown in dotted lines that functions on the manger 31' so as to 'draw, through the mediir'mbf a pin 32, the end of thedever '20 away from merit 'ci'the'shnigei- 31,"is opposed by the Sprin adjustment etthe plitrfger obtainedhy afthumb nut .33't1ntil the properbalance is obtaii'ied; This double adjustnientfoa-tr e the or the le er 20 is forth'e purpose of ae eommodatiagvarious thick-' 30 i ness of envelopes as they pass between the roll 19 and thefroll 2'5, it being understood that the normal adjus'tmei'it is such that a slight clearance normally between these two 'rollsf Final adjustment of ioll 26 is obtained by the 'ad justingnut 24 as a drivingspiiiidlefiil carried thereby, On

the jupper {end of the driving spindle 39 isfa gear which is in mesh wlth pan of bevel 9 ;"ears 41 and 42. The "gear 42 "1s "connected to jaf spindle 43' on the outer end 1": whi'el'i is mot-area "the disc 37 already referredto; The spindle 43 has its bearing in and is 'diriven thr'ougha sleeve 44. The "gear 41 is fastened to the sleeve 44 in an suitable manner as by the/set screw 45. Fasteii'e'dfto the sleeve 44 is a disc 46 J and the two discs '37 revolve in opposite 'diiections 'as willbe more clearly seen by reference to 1O frtini'wl-i'i'c'h it"will be further seen't'hat the died 4'6 operates within the housifnger chamber 47' which contai'h's water that i's' harried by the disc 46 upto the moistei'ring' roller 48. The roller 48 revolves on a hollow spindle 49 and its pressure against the disc46, as well as the di'sc37, is controlled byt'lre adjusting screw 50 whicl'i is held in adjustable position by 't'he'eat'eh'oidetent 51. The bottom end of the hollowspindle 49 is guided by the stud The base member 38 also supports a flap pressure roll 5:3 which is made tapered to conform with the inner contour of the disc 37. The roller 53 is cut away to give a series of spaced contacts in order that all the moisture beneath the flap of the envelope will not be squeezed out as the letters pass through, 0n the frame" or the unitaryinoisresurgdevice 1s fa grade member '54wh1'eh extends to point adjacent the periphery ofthe disc 3?, The guide member 54 enthe bottom et the envelope, it being understood that the letters go-through the machine in an upside-down:position, as in- (heated by the dotted line in Fig. 9, and

bends this away from'the disc '87 so the time fott'l e envelope passes on the side of the disc 37 toward the separator lever 20 while the 'flap passes on the'r'everseside or the disc 87. The pressure roller 53 is resilieii'tly niouhted through the medium 'Of a I springj68 'so that it may be pushed dow'nward slightly when the envelopelflap passes between itand the disc 37. The mail matter is eai-rieci forward by the roll 35 with the assistance ofthe disc 37 after they are moistehed is the simmer abovedescri'bed, to the pressure rolls 55' and 56, which ro11s,it being understood, 1 that 56 is adjustable to seal the letter, which is thenpassed to'the print 'm'g' pressure roller 57 having airadjustmen't 69 and the prihting die 58, which in the Present case, i mounted and forms part ofthe registering mechanism generally illustratedby 65,:t'rom which point the mail is carried'to the stacker 'feed rolls 59 and to'the stackerhO.

No complete "description ofthe stamping and registerin mechanism will be made herein as this is tlie subject (if-a separate applicatioh, except to say that the plate 1 has a depression 66 therein to receivethe stamping and printing mechanism which is driven by a shaft 63 having a l'u'g64 thereon to engage a slot 67 in the meter drive shaft.

(see Figs. Tim d 8). I p p x It may be'also'fmehtioned that'the macl'iin'e' i's 'ef'pera'ted by a ulle 61 driven by any suitable i'iiean's such as a small electric motor. A letter tray 62 carries the letters as they are brought to the machine for feed- 7 ing ashasbe'en described. ,7

Mail marking machines, in general, are old, aswill :be seen by reference to Jahn Patei'it'856345 of J une 11, 1907, so we v have merely confined this specification'to the'additions ahd improvements thereto, and, while I we have described a preferred form of ourfe'edmgseparatmg, and moistening devices,

it will be headil'y' appreciated't hat in a machine of this character, the details may be varied over a considerable range without departing from the spirit of our inventlon and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism'including a feed roll, a lever having associated therewith a plurality'ot rolls one of which cooperates with said feed roll and another acting as a moisture device feed roll, a spring acting to carry said lever toward the first mentioned feed roll and a spring controlled member acting to force the lever away from said feed roll substantially as described. r

In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism including a feed roll, a

' lever having associated therewith a plurality of rolls one of which cooperates with said feed roll and another acting as a moisture device feed roll, an adjustable spring acting to carry said lever toward the first teed roll and an adjustable spring actuated plunger acting on said lever in opposition to said first mentioned sprin V i 3. In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism including a feed roll, a lever having associated therewith a plurality of rolls one of which cooperates with said feed roll and another acting as a moisture device feed roll, a spring housing having a plunger extending from one end thereof and into cooperation with said lever, a spring in said housing with means for adjusting the tension of the same, said spring acting to move the lever away from the feedv roll and a second adjustable spring having one end positioned onthe lever and the other carried by said spring housing as described;

4. In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism including a feed roll, a lever having a pivoted arm thereon and carrying a roll cooperating with said feed roll to separate the mail matter with means for adjusting the position of said cooperating roll with respect to said feed roll.

5. In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism including a feed roll, a lever having an arm pivoted thereon and another arm and the lever as a whole having a common pivot, said latter arm carrying a moisture device feed roll while the other arm carries a roll for cooperating with said feed roll to separate the mail matter.

6. In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism including afeed roll, a lever having an arm pivoted thereon and another arm and the lever as a whole having a common pivot, said latter arm carrying a'moisture device feed roll while the other arm carries a roll for cooperating with said feed roll to separate the mail matter, with means for adjusting the latter arm and further means for rotating with respect to the lever and means for adjusting the position of the whole lever..

7. In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism including a feed roll, a lever having a pivoted arm thereon and carrying a roll cooperating with said feed roll to separate the mail matter with means for adjusting the posit-ionof said cooperating roll with respect tosaid feed roll, and a second arm pivoted on the same spindle vice feedroll, said second arm beingspring actuated so the moisture device roll will maintain its working positiontor all positions'of adjustments of said lever. V

8. In a machine of the class described, a

moistening device having a rotary member,

a separator mechanism including a lever adjacent and substantially parallel to the plane of said rotary member, said lever hav ing an arm carrying a roll acting to assist in feeding the mail matter through the machine and a second arm having acommon pivot with said lever and having'a roll in normal engagement with said rotary member. 7

9. In a machine ofthe class described, a moistening device having a rotary member, a separator mechanism including a lever adjacent and substantially parallel to the plane of said rotary member, said leverhaving an arm carryin a roll acting to assist in feeding the mall matter through the ma chine and a second arm carrying a rolleX- v tending through a fork in said lever and into engagement with said rotary member.

10. In a machine of the class described, a moistening device having a rotary member, and 'a fixed guide member extending to a point near the periphery of said rotary member, a separator mechanismincluding an adjustable lever lying adjacent said irotary member, saidlever carrying a roll acting to assist in feeding the mail matter through the machine and another roll pivoted on a spring actuated arm and extending through said lever into normal engagement with said rotary member. v

11. In a machine'of the class described, a moistening device having a rotary memher, and a guide member for causing the flap .of the envelope to pass 011 one side of said v rotary member. while the envelope passes on the otherside and a separator mechanism including a roll for moving the venvelope past said-rotary member as and for the purpose described.

12. In a machine of the class described, a separator mechanism including a feed roll, and a lever carrying a separator roll closely adjacent the feed roll-with means for ad justingthe position of the separator roll i I it in a direction opposite to said. feed roll.

In a machine of the classdescribed, a

with said lever and carryinga moisture de- &

separator -me chanism'"including a feed roll",

a lever-pivoted mane end and lying in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement (i-f the mail th reu-gn the machine, said lever lia-i ing adjustable Lu-111,21 roll-carriedby'fsaid arm closely adacent said reed-sonnet actuated in an opposit e direction thereto.

14; In a machine or the class described, means for separating ana seahn envelopes including; a feed roll and a separator roll runningin reverse direction to thei eed roll, an adjustal'ale lever-carrying said separator roll, .a retary disc positioned adjacent the lever, a urtle member oositioned at the periphery of the disc to cngagetlie envelope as it comes from the feed roll to cause the envelope to pass on that side of the disc toward said le' V'er ivhile-th'eflap passes on the opposite side of the disc anda ro'llextending through an opening in said lever into engagement With said disc for the PHI pose described. Q I

15. In fa maehine'of theclass described,

means-formoistehing envelope flaps prepar atory' to scaling comprlsing a unitary structure consisting of; "a-pa-ir 0 f rotatable discs with a moisture roller positioned there be 1 tween, pressure roller -e'-nga 'ingone 'oi: sa1d discs, one -o-f-sai'd discs havi g a part at least 7 positioned in a liquid and the otherdisc positi' onedtoreceive the envelopes from a separator means cooperating with the latter 'disc'to ca s'efthe flap of the envelope to 'mo've on one side'of-the disc to beengaged by the pressure roll and the'bod'y of the envelope on the other, with means for "moving the envelopes past said discto sealing rollsas described.

16. In a machine of the class described, means i'o'r moisteni-ng envelope flaps prep-aratory to sealingcomprising a unitary structure consisting of; a pair of disc-3 rotatable in opposite--directions, an adjustable moistn-re roller contacting with both discs, one of said discs having'a part passing through a liquid Whi-iethe other disc has an adjustable pressure roller contacting therewith, and

means cooperating With the latter disc to cause thefia-p bi' the-envelope toiniov'e on one side of the disc tobe engaged by the pressure r01 1 and the body of the envelope on the said discs b positioned betw other, With means for moving the envelopepast said'disc toseal-i-ng rolls as described.

17 A moi-sterling device'a machine of the class described, comprising a unitary structure adapted to be mounted on said machine; said structure including; a support, a pair of di'scssp aced apart, driving means for the-"discs' arriedby tl'iesupport, one of inthebottom thereof a ption wiperro'iier 'retatably een a nd contacting with both discs,- apressure roller engaging the face of substa-r'rtiaily enclosed by ses me the other disc and an envelope guide member preIe-rab r fastened to. said casing .to cause the-flap of passing envelope to pass between the disc. 7 7

18. A moistening device for a machine of the class described, comprising a unitary structure adapted to be mounted on said machine, said structure"including; a support, a pair of discs spaced apart, driving meansfor pressure roller and its cooperating the discs carried by the support, "one of said discs ib'esubstantially enclosed by casing, can ing inthe bottoin thereof a liquid,

an absorption trip'er' roller rotatabiy and adiustabify positioned between and contacting with both discs, a tapered pressure roller 'resi-liently mounted to 'coi'itact with a taper face of the other disc and mefa'us' c'arried by the structure for causing the flap "of a passing enreiope "to pass between the pressure roller and its cooperating disc.

19. A ino'isten'i'np; device for a machine of the class described, comprising a unitary roller engaging the mail passing the seconddisc for the-purpose described. 1

-20. A moistening device for machine of the class described, comprising a unitary" structure'ada-pted to be mounted on said machine, said structure including; a, support, ahousing carried by the support and adapted to carry a liquid in the bottom "part, a disc rotatably mountedlwithin. said housing and dipping into said liquid, an absorption roller carriedby said housing so as torotats with said disc, said roller protruding th'rough'an opening in said hous ing,a sec- 0nd dlsc Without the ho sing and 'rotatably carried'by the driving spindle for the first disc, said roller being adjustable for ensuring contact with both dis-cs and a'resi'liently mounted pressure roller contacting with the same face of the second disc tion roller. r V

21. A moisteni'ng device for a machine of the class described, comprising a unitary structure adapted to bejmoanted on said machine, said structure 1 including; a sup; port, a housing carrled by the support and adapted toc'arry' a liquid in the bottom part, a disc rotatably mounted within said housing and dipping into saidliqui'd, an ,absorp c "tion roller carried by said housing, so as to V rotate with said disc,-sa'id roller ]i irotruding through an opening in said housings sec- V as "said 'absorpond disc without the housing and mounted to be rotated in. contact with said roller and a tapered roller having relieved portions along its length, the full portions engaging the mail passing said second disc for the purpose described. 7

22. A moistening device for a machine of the class described, comprising a unitary structure adapted to be mounted on said machine, said structure including; a support, a pair of vertically mounted discs with means for driving them, one of said discs adapted to have its outer face placed in contact with a separator feed roll, the other disc being mounted to pass through a liquid as it is rotated, a wiper for picking up the liquid from the last mentioned disc and transferring at least apart thereof to the first disc, means for causing the flap of an envelope to pass over the moistened surface of said first disc and a pressure roller for engaging the flap as described.

23. A moistening device for a machine of the class described, comprising a unitary structure adapted to be mounted on said machine, said structure including; a support,

a pair of vertically mounted discs with means for drlving them, 1n reverse dlrection,

a Wiper roller adjustably mounted and a pressure roller resiliently mounted between said discs and preferably diametrically opposite each other, the wiper roller being in contact with both discs while the pressure roller contacts with only one disc, one of said discs being mounted to pass through a liquid as it is rotated, and means for causing the flap of an envelope to pass on that side of the disc which is in engagement with both of said rollers as and for the purpose described.

24. A moistening device for amachine of the class described including a rotatable disc placed adjacent a separator device and in contact with a separator feed roll, means for guiding an envelope so the flap thereof will the separator feed roll, a second rotatable disc for picking up moisture, adjustable means engaging both discs for transferring at least a part of the moisture to one face of said first disc, means for driving said discs in reverse direction and a pressure roller for engaging the flap of the envelopev at spaced points to ensure that a suflicient quantity of moisture stays on the flap as it passesover the face of the disc.

26.- A moistening device for a machine of the class described, including two rotatable discs, one disc having means associated therewith to cause the flap of an envelope to wipe across one surface thereof and the other disc having associated means for picking up and transferring moisture to the flap engaging surfaces of the first disc.

pass on that side of the disc away from the In testimony whereof, we afiix our signa tures.

JOHN A. MITCHELL. LAWRENCE J. ZAHN. 

